6/17/24 - Author Nafanua Manns and Women's Coalition of American Samoa's Luisa Kuaea speak with Joey Cummings about the Meet & Greet happening at Feleti Barstow Library 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday 6/18/24.
Nafanua is the inspiring author of "Speak Up and Be Free.” Her book is a powerful call to break the silence and speak out against the veil of tradition surrounding sexual abuse, assault, and violence. Nafanua shares her deeply personal journey, highlighting how these issues have impacted her life—from relationships and school to work and motherhood.
Joey: 93KHJ American Samoa's Best Music Mix. I'm Mr. Joey and we have more friends in studio with us for a quick talk; our friends Luisa Kuaea from the Women's Coalition of American Samoa and author of the new book Speak Up and Be Free - Nafanua Manns. Hi, how are you?
Nafanua: I'm doing good, Joey.
Joey: Oh, it's so fantastic to have you here. You've been making quite the splash. Everybody knows that there's an event happening tomorrow at Feleti Barstow Library to introduce this book locally, but to actually have you here to talk about it is very exciting. Luisa, do you want to do a proper introduction?
Luisa: Absolutely. Joey, thank you for the time. Good morning. American Samoa. The Women's Coalition of American Samoa is excited to partner with the Feleti Barstow Public Library for a special Meet and Greet the Author event tomorrow, Tuesday, June 18th at 5 p.m. at the Library in Utulei. We are honored to have Nafanua Manns, the author of Speak Up and Be Free as our guest speaker. Her powerful book sheds light on breaking the silence surrounding sexual abuse, assault, and violence. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet Nafanua personally, hear her inspiring story, ask questions, and find the courage to use your voice.
Joey: That's like a professional grade (inroduction) right there. I have to step up my game. Good job.
Luisa: You said "come ready."
Joey: Love it, I love it! Nafanua, that's the grandest intro that one could have. Can you tell us a little bit about your book?
Nafanua: My book. My book. I wrote it four years ago, 2020 during Covid. It went live in October of 2020. In the book I wrote, I thought about it for a couple of years before I actually came up, came around writing it. But the book is a story, not a story. But.
Luisa: It's your story.
Nafanua: It's part of my story. But it's it tells a little bit about, well, what happened when I was nine years old. And that brought about the title of the book to speak up and be free because one it's it's not right. Second, it's in the culture. And a tradition that I was raised up in was not very it was not a, a friendly environment for someone that was sexually abused like myself. I was raped when I was nine years old several times. And over the years, I knew as I look back that it really affected my life. And so I mean, all through my life, school as a young girl in high school, college, I joined the military. It just carried through, even into my marriage as a mother, as a wife. And so through prayers and talking to people I have I've gotten to a point where I know I am set free. I'm I'm still healing. I have not arrived, but the biggest part of my healing has come about since the book. And so I want to share that. I know there's probably more drastic events similar to my case. However, it's a voice to those that are still struggling with it. And just to say, hey, it is time to be set free. It's time to just speak up. Do something. You don't have to write a book, you know, but you just do something. There are ways.
Joey: Which leads you to today where you're you're promoting this book in your meeting people. And I know that tomorrow the Women's Coalition of American Samoa and the library are are going to host you. What can people expect tomorrow whenever they go?
Nafanua: Just expect to hear me share my story, see me as a person, not just a story I made up. It's proof, living proof that I've been through it and I came out of it. And I'm living life as best as I can, you know? And you can do the same thing.
Joey: And who's invited?
Nafanua: Anyone is welcome to come. Not just women. Men, too, are invited to come, especially young girls. You know anyone? It's for anyone because it happens to anyone.
Joey: Very good. And that's tomorrow at five. And what else is on the program, Luisa?
Luisa: Well, it's Nafanua is our guest speaker, and we will have a few books available. It won't be a book signing, but we managed to get some books in so that people could see. And maybe we'll do a first come, first serve, receive the book. And it really is an opportunity for our community and the public to enter our library. Our library is an institution that is valued here on our island, and there are a lot of events and activities that occur. And the fact that Nafanua is an author and wrote a book we are hosting her in partnership with the library. And, you know, there is limited seating. However, if it needs to be standing room behind the limited seats, we will open that up to the people too. We won't turn anyone away.
Joey: That's fantastic. That's tomorrow again at 5:00 at Feleti Barstow Public Library. Where does this go from here? You've obviously got some good momentum going. You're telling your story. Like you said, you're on your journey. Where do we go?
Nafanua: More events like this. I have been planning on just doing a program, talking to women, just coaching him through you know, whether they have been abused sexually or physically. But that is the goal is to basically coach women through that phase and get them to live life.
Joey: Yeah. If people want to find out more, where can they reach out?
Luisa: They can go to the Facebook page for the Women's Coalition of American Samoa. And also, I just wanted to add to what Nafanua was saying, I think, where do we go from here? I think it's important for American Samoa to provide victims with the tools that they need to work through this trauma and to set them on a path of recovery. I think this will lead to more conversations about preventing sexual violence, preventing domestic violence. And that really starts with a few things. And educating ourselves on the issues, you know, admitting that it does happen in our community, you know, respect a person's right to say no to sexual activity and, and, and speak out against all forms of violence. Those are just a few ways to start that preventative discussion. And I think with Nafanua being here, it was divine design, you know, because you are going to revive a conversation that has been dormant for a long time. And our people are suffering, our children are suffering, those who have been victimized. And this history continues to repeat itself when it's not addressed and not spoken about. And so I believe that this is going to be the beginning of a great journey for recovery and for you. Nafanua thank you for visiting our island again. Well, it's visiting. You are from this island. What am I talking about?
Joey: Thank you for telling the story. The book is called Speak Up and Be Free. The author is Nafanua Manns and the meet and greet is tomorrow at Barstow Library, 5 p.m. That's tomorrow. Tuesday. Be there or be square with the Women's Coalition of American Samoa. And I thank you for coming on the program today.
Nafanua: Thank you for the opportunity.
Joey: Yeah, it's 93KHJ!
